It is yet to decide on the proposals of the insurance

l last adjustments on tax

The Office of Christine Lagarde resumed contact with the local elected representatives and employers organizations, this week to finalize the reform of the tax (TP). Several points should be still disposed of here in the presentation of the Bill of finance in Council of Ministers, 23 or September 30. For example, introduced in early August does not specify if the territorial economic assessment, replacing the TP will be capped to 3.5 or a lower level, with the encouragement of employers. Lose, many companies in the acting and the wholesale trade, also hope to obtain the sectoral developments. Despite their reservations, reform should apply fully to January 1, 2010.

l carbon tax: delicate arbitrations

Less technical than the TP reform, the introduction of the carbon tax is one of the folders at high risk of this fall. François Fillon, who has promised to present a draft to the parliamentarians in the "coming weeks", reflects on cursors both acceptable for households and strong enough to change behaviour. Meetings of arbitration must be held, in principle the week next, to determine the price which will be charged per tonne of CO in 2010, and the next four years. If Michel Rocard pleads for a price of 32 euros in 2010, the Executive has already held this high level.

l public accounts: contain expenditure

The Government seeks to contain the haemorrhage of its revenues, which were melted by 25 in the first half. 500 Tax niches, which represent 70 billion euros, is one of the sources of potential savings. Like last year, the Government should let the initiative parliamentarians, during the budget debate, to stop their advance. For social security, the 2010 deficit should also reach record levels: about EUR 30 billion for the general scheme. If expenditures are consistent with forecasts, revenue drop with the decline of the payroll. The Government wants to contain the progress of the health expenses reimbursed at 3, which means savings of about EUR 2 billion. It is yet to decide on the proposals of the insurance.

l step of "miracle" to wait on unemployment

In June, pole employment registered a decrease in the number of job seekers (-18,600 in category A), after an increase of 25 in one year. And in the second quarter, the destruction of jobs in the market sector slowed. But, warned Christine Lagarde, "should not expect miracles in the short term." The social conflicts that have dotted the summer (New Fabris, Molex, o'clock and Maury) will not be the last. A few tools of the negotiation in July, between social partners on emergency employment measures, will help cushion the effects of the crisis: partial unemployment, upgrading custom convention... The Government also relies on the extension of the contract of professional transition.

l define the scope of the large loan

Nicolas Sarkozy installs, tomorrow, the commission for the large loan chaired by Alain Juppé and Michel Rocard. Two months of debates are programmed to stop the list of "investment for the future." If François Fillon has indicated that it would be the Parliament which would decide to "priorities and the terms and conditions of the loan", the French are currently reserved. And the more orthodox members of the majority concern for public finances. The Ministers, they will try to weigh to register their priorities: dependency, high flow, University, car of the future...

l convince on bonuses and corporate governance

Nicolas Sarkozy receives this afternoon, in the Elysee Palace, major bankers of the place to make the point bonuses and their lending commitments (also read page 20). The head of State must convince the French that lessons from the crisis will be retained, and the G20 in Pittsburgh late September will be an opportunity for stocktaking at the international level. After calling for a greater share of profits in the company, Nicolas Sarkozy will also move forward on the record of the governance of companies and on the engagement and participation. Could not obtain the social partners, as he requested, proposals shared.

l influenza: prepare the vaccination campaign

The Government finalizes plan to prepare for pandemic influenza A (H1N1). Luc Chatel presented last week measures selected for National Education ("Les Echos" of 19 August). The Ministry of health is currently negotiating with health professionals to identify the conduct of the vaccination campaign in specialized centres, when laboratories have begun to deliver the 94 million doses ordered. The Executive must also decide what people will be vaccinated as a priority. It closely monitors the evolution of the epidemic in the DOM - TOM in the southern hemisphere.

l retirement of mothers: a reform in the fall

The Ministry of labour announced at the heart of the month of August, the reform of the benefits enjoyed by mothers for their retirement will take place this fall in the financing of the Social Security Act. Current legislation - an increase in duration of two years per child for women insurance - is not compatible with European case law on the equality of the sexes. The Government similarly tries to preserve the current benefits. It should largely build on the solution adopted in 2003 for the public service (see page 3).

l site at high risk on territorial communities

The objective of a presentation late September of the Bill for reform of the local communities by the Council of Ministers is maintained, but it seems difficult to be able to adopt the text before the regional March 2010. Legislation could already be presented July 29 in Council of Ministers, without having received the arbitration of the head of State on one of its most controversial provisions, the creation of territorial location consultants and place of General and regional advisers. The Elysee Palace should always decide on the mode of election that should enter into force in 2014 with, as new scenario, the conservation of a majoritarian nevertheless accompanied by a dose of proportional in all cantons.

l Prisons: closer to the European standards France

A school will be debated in the Assembly the prison Bill, first appointment in scope for the Minister of Justice, Michèle Alliot-Marie. This text, hired by Rachida Dati, aims to bring together the France of European detention standards, whereas the Hexagone is decried for living conditions imposed on its inmates. It includes the principle of the solitary individual, the decrease of the maximum period of placement in disciplinary cell and different measures facilitating the development of sentence via including increased electronic bracelet use. Measures that some unions consider already insufficient.

l highly sensitive reform of the criminal procedure

The report of the Committee on light will be presented on 3 September Nicolas Sarkozy. It aims to propose paths of reform, highly sensitive, of the Penal Code and its procedure. Among them: the removal of the investigating judge (which could be replaced by a judge of the investigation and freedoms, invested exclusively adjudicative functions), or the possibility of introducing the plea procedure in the courts of Assizes. The light Board is also working on the transformation of the role of the President of Assize Court, which most would lead the discussions, but only ensure their good conduct.